Life-preserver.



J. A. O'BRIEN.

LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 9, 1912.

1,026, 1 72, Patented May 14. 1912.

INVENTQR.

WITNESSES: Jig r/fil? 14. 0 29/76 i 4 nrromvsy W CULUMBIA PLANOGIAPH co wAsnmm'oN, u. c.

PATENT ()FFIOE.

JOHN A. OBRIEN, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

LIFE-PRESERVER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. OBRIEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in life preservers, and has for its object the provision of a simple and inexpensively constructed pneumatic lifesaving device that may be worn in uninflated condition without discomfort under the outer garment and in any emergency may be readily inflated with air whereupon it becomes a serviceable and efficient means for maintaining buoyancy in water. The device may likewise be employed by those learning the art of swimming, as it may be worn beneath the garment inconspicuously and only such inflation as is desired may be imparted to it.

l/Vith these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, the invention consists in the novel construction of a pneumatic life preserver, and the combination and adaptation of parts, as will be further disclosed in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally set forth in the appended claim.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a pictorial representation of a person wearing a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached perspective View partly in section of an element of the invention. Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of an element. Fig. at is a cross sectional view of the invention in inflated condition.

Referring to said views the reference 1111- meral 1 designates a tubular casing of thin flexible material, as silk or cotton fabric, formed at each end with an opening which is arranged to be closed by a drawstring 2. A sack or bag 3 of thin rubber or other waterproof material impervious to air is adapted to be inclosed within said casing and is provided at one end with an inflatingtube 4. At its opposite end said tube is provided with a mouth-piece 5 in which is provided a self-closing valve permitting the inlet of air under pressure.

As indicated the device is assembled in operative condition by introducing the inner bag 3 symmetrically within the casing, the ends of the latter terminating somewhat short of the extreme length of the casing to afford opportunity for the converging ends Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 9, 1912.

Patented May 14, 1912. Serial No. 670,216.

of said casing to gather about the ends of the inner bag after inflation. hen the devices are inoperative the inflating tube may be coiled within the respective end of the casing and when the preserver is about to be used, the tube may be drawn out through the end opening of the casing, as illustrated in Fig. l, to enable the same to reach the wearers mouth for inflation.

The device may be made to be worn about the waist or under the arms of a person but the preferred manner of its use is about the neck in about the way indicated in the drawing. \Vith this end in view, the inner bag is shaped, preferably, with a curvature, see Fig. 2, to be more easily and comfortably accommodated about the wearers neck. One side is likewise preferably formed with a reentrant curve (3 of shorter radius than the curvature upon the opposite side 7 affording a relatively narrow portion 8 intermediate its extremities. The device may thus be put on in its uninflated condition either under or over the outer garments and is secured by tying together the drawstrings 2, allowing the tube 4t to protrude as ex plained. The life prescrver thus lies comfortably about the neck acting as a mul'ller that is protective against rain. and cold. Said tube lies within easy reach of the wearers mouth and in event of emergency the mouth-piece 5 may be grasped between the wearers teeth and air blown into the bag to inflate same. As thus inflated, the device will appear as in Fig. 1 and will afi'ord sufficient buoyancy to keep a person afloat without effort and particularly will assist materially in maintaining an inexperienced persons head above water. The self-closing valve in said tube will prevent the leakage of air and the tube is at all times available to inflate the bag to any desired amount within the limits of the casing.

The device is simple and practical in construction and is well adapted to the service for which intended.

lVhile I have described with some particularity the device for which I desire a patent, I do not intend to confine myself to the precise details or specific features shown. Obvious changes of parts and modifications of details may be made that will lie within the scope of the claim and not depart from the spirit of the invention or sacrifice its advantages.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire.to secure byrLettersalso as a means for connecting the ends of 10 Patent, is the casing together.

A life preserver comprising an inner air- Signed at Seattle, Wash, this 27th day of tight bag provided at one end with a tube December 1911. for expanding the same, said bag between said tube and the opposite end of the bag JOHN AIOBRIEN.

having a relatively narrow portion, and an Witnesses:

outer caslng havlng draw-strings ateach end VVlLLIAM H. GoRHAM,

which retain the bag 1n the caslng and act JENNIE GooDERI-IAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, A

Washington, D. G. 

